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2011 Chevrolet Caprice returns to police beat

October 4, 2009

The 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle Photo by GM

The Chevrolet Caprice is back on the police beat.

General Motors unveiled plans on Monday for a new patrol car that will hit the streets in early 2011. It's called the Chevy Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle, and it will come with V8 and V6 engines, as well as a slew of specialized equipment.

The Caprice is based on GM's family of global rear-drive architecture called “Zeta,” which also underpins the Camaro sports car, the Holden Statesman and the doomed Pontiac G8. But Chevy spokesman Klaus-Peter Martin said the new Caprice is not the G8. The new police car is most similar to a Chevy Caprice that is sold in the Middle East.

This platform is the long-wheelbase version, measuring 118.5 inches. There are no plans at this time to sell a version of the Caprice to the public, Martin said.

Under the hood, the top motor will be a 6.0-liter V8 rated at 355 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque that will be paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The V6 arrives for the 2012 model year. Look for 0-to-60 mph times of less than six seconds for the V8.

The car also gets 18-inch wheels, four-wheel disc brakes and a heavy-duty suspension parts. An “undercover” package will be available.

The Caprice will have 112 cubic feet of interior volume and 18 cubic feet of volume in the trunk. GM says the new cruiser takes square aim at competitors from Ford and Dodge.

“The new Chevrolet Caprice police car is the right tool at the right time for law enforcement,” said Jim Campbell, general manager for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. “We asked for a lot of feedback from our police customers, which helped us develop a vehicle that is superior to the Crown Victoria in key areas.”

GM made the announcement at the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Denver. The company has a long history in law enforcement, with notable models including the 1959 Chevy Biscayne, which had a 348-cubic-inch V8, the 1965 “big-block” Chevys, the 1976 Impala and, more recently, the 1994 Caprice.